Summary
This message challenges us to reconsider what it truly means to follow Christ by distinguishing between being ‘nice’ and being ‘kind.’ While niceness seeks to avoid conflict at all costs, even compromising truth, kindness pursues what is morally good and right, even when it rocks the boat. Through Luke 6:6-11, we witness Jesus deliberately healing a man with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath, right in front of religious leaders who were watching to accuse him. This wasn’t recklessness—it was righteous confrontation. Jesus exposed how the Pharisees had taken God’s good gift of Sabbath rest and buried it under so many man-made rules that they were breaking people instead of helping them. The central lesson pierces our hearts: policies should serve people, not the other way around. When we become so rigid in our rules and preferences that we lose sight of human need, we’ve missed the heart of God entirely. This message calls us to examine where we might be prioritizing order over compassion, comfort over conviction, and our own systems over the very people those systems were meant to serve. It’s a challenging invitation to embrace the mess of truly loving people as Jesus did.
Key Scripture – Read Luke 6:6-11
Key Takeaways
- Nice vs. Kind – Nice keeps the peace at all costs; kind does what’s morally good even when it’s uncomfortable
- Policies Should Serve People – Rules and policies are tools, not masters
- People Are Messy, Love Them Anyway – Following Jesus means embracing complications and mess
- Jesus Stepped Into Our Mess – Christ’s example shows sacrificial love despite the cost
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think Jesus chose to heal this man publicly rather than privately? What point was He making to the Pharisees?
- Jesus asked, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or destroy it?” How does this question reframe the entire debate about Sabbath rules?
- “Nice vs. Kind” – Which tendency do you lean toward? Are you more likely to keep the peace at all costs, or to speak truth even when it’s uncomfortable? What are the consequences of each approach?
- Think about your own “policies” or personal rules. Are there any that have become so rigid they’re actually preventing you from loving people well? (Examples: policies about time, money, hospitality, involvement, etc.)
- “Without oxen, a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.” What “messes” might God be calling you to step into right now? What’s holding you back?
- The Sabbath was meant to serve people by giving them rest. How can we honor the principle of Sabbath rest while avoiding legalism? What does a healthy Sabbath look like in your life?
- Jesus loved us “anyway” despite all our mess. Who do you need to love “anyway” right now—despite how they’ve hurt you, disappointed you, or complicated your life?
Scripture Reference
- Luke 6:6-11 – The main text about Jesus healing the man with the shriveled hand on the Sabbath
- Luke 5:17-26 – Jesus healing the paralyzed man lowered through the roof
- Luke 5:27-32 – The party at Levi’s house
- Luke 5:33-39 – Question about fasting
- Luke 6:1-5 – Disciples picking grain on the Sabbath
- Mark 2:27 – “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath”
- Mark 10:45 – “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”
- Proverbs 14:4 – “Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty, but an abundant harvest comes from the strength of an ox”
- 1 Corinthians 11:25-26 – Paul’s words about communion (quoted at the end)